Handle for air brake release valves



Aug. 28, 1951 5, JOINER 2,566,209

HANDLE FOR AIR BRAKE RELEASE VALVES Filed Feb. 8, 1946 s p @9727 L' fi/ner Patented Aug. 28, 1951 HANDLE FOR AIR BRAKE RELEAsa'v LvEs Sylvester L. Joiner, Sweetwater, Tex. t Application February s,194s,sejriaiNb.s4e,4,29 j

in the faces of the trainmen when bleeding or' draining the air pressure of the reservoirs.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a reservoir valve handle provided with means whereby the valve plunger may be readily and conveniently maintained in an open position.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved handle for an air brake release valve whereby certain important advantages are attained, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that my invention may be better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in section of a handle constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a sectional view substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, B denotes a well known type of release valve body in which operates the usual valve plunger P and which is operated by the handle H in a well known manner.

The handle H, in the present embodiment of the invention, is relatively short and at a desired point intermediate its ends has rigid therewith a surrounding plate I, herein disclosed as circular in form. The periphery of this plate I is defined by an upstanding flange 2 which is disposed substantially half way around the plate I.

The outer end portion of the handle H is provided with the usual fork 3 which is operatively engaged in a well known manner with a release rod for operating the handle H. It is to be noted that the flange 2 of the plate I is so positioned with respect to the fork .3 to assure the flange 2 being disposed in a direction transverse of the release rod R for a purpose which will hereinafter he more apparent.

In the present air brake assembly on railroad rolling stock, the triple valve is supported close to one side of the car body so as to be readily and conveniently accessible to the trainman. With the handles for the release valves now gen- 3 Claims. (Cl. 137-139) erally in useQwhenthetrainman at the sameside of the car as the triple valve'operates the re lease rod to open the plunger P, the escaping air has a tendency to blow into his face. This is of decided objection to the trainman, particularly on account of scales, grit and other foreign matter which will be blown into his face or on account of the extreme low temperature of the escaping air in the cold months. On this account, With the handles now in use, the trainman now generally operates the handle by either kicking the same or by striking it with a brakemans club. Blows such as these have a tendency to injure the valve and to otherwise interfere with the efflciency of the triple valve.

In applying my improved handle, the: flange 2 is disposed outwardly so that when the plunger P is in open position as a result of tilting the handle H, the escaping air, instead of blowing outwardly into the face of the trainman, will be directed inwardly. Of course, on the far side of the car with respect to the triple valve, the operation of a handle throughthe release rod at that side does not have the same disadvantage to the trainman.

It is also to be noted that the plate I is so positioned upon the handle H and that, when the handle H is applied, the flange 2 will be positioned relatively to the lower or reduced portion of the valve body B, so as to deflect the escaping air in the direction away from the end of the release rod R employed at the moment to eifect the opening of the valve, yet be spaced therefrom a distance sufficient to offer no hindrance or obstruction to the required rocking movement of the handle H and the plunger P.

When running between terminals, it often occurs that the triple valve sticks and, of course, this can only be remedied by cutting out the valve and then bleeding the same. Under such circumstances, it is not necessary for the trainman to remain at the car to hold the valve plunger P open but he can very readily place a stick, stone or other readily available article between the plate I or the flange 2 and the adjacent portion of the valve body B to wedge the handle H in a manner to maintain the valve plunger P open.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a handle for an air brake release valve constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated.

I claim:

1. In combination with the body and plunger of an air brake release valve, a handle for moving the plunger into open position extending within and freely supported by the valve body, a circular plate carried by and surrounding the handle outwardly of the body, and a substantially semi-circular flange carried by the plate and on the side thereof toward the body, said flange partially surrounding the handle and providing means to 'deflect air bleeding from the valve body laterally awa from the operator of said handle.

2. In combination with the body and plunger of an air brake release valve, a handle for moving the plunger into open position extending within and freely supported by the valve body for rocking movement, a circular plate carried by and surrounding the handle outwardly of the body, and a substantially semi-circular fiange carried by the plate on the side thereof toward the body to deflect air bleeding from the valve 20 body away "from the'opei'ato'r of 'sa'idhandle, said flange normally aligning with the adjacent portion of the valve body but spaced therefrom to permit the said rocking movement of the handle.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 with the said handle constituted in an elongated member having a socket in one end to seat on the outer end of said plunger and formed to provide a fork at its other end, an actuating rod extending through the fork in right angular relation with respect to the handle and .plunger, and means for securing said rod in said'fork a't'alpoint intermediate its ends. i SYLVESTER L. J O-INER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 712,259 7 Briggs Oct. 28, 1902 1,616,287 Stone 'Feb. 1, 1927 2,121,553 Stewart Mar. 23, 193-7 

